This is a brief rundown of what is being reported today in Vietnam’s state-approved media and about Vietnam in the international press.
It endeavours to highlight the narratives currently shaping the country’s economic, financial, and business news landscape.
Ed’s note: I’m always looking for new sources with unique insights. If you’re operating a business or working in Vietnam and want to talk about it, reach out: mark.barnes@the-shiv.com
Gold below world price
Nha Dau Tu is reporting that SJC gold remains below global prices, reversing Vietnam’s longstanding domestic premiums.
SJC traded at VND147.7-150.6 million (US$5,605-5,715) per tael, with buying prices about VND1 million (US$38) below global levels. View source→
Gold bar liquidity issues
Thanh Nien is reporting that SJC gold bars remained difficult to obtain despite official prices being substantially below those of competing brands.
Thanh Nien found most surveyed dealers had no SJC bars available, while SJC stores generally limited customers to about one or two taels. View source→
Bank bond interest rates easing
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnamese banks raised nearly VND15 trillion (US$569 million) through 13 bond issues in August, reflecting easing borrowing costs from July’s multi-year high.
Average bank bond yields fell 0.2 percentage points to about 8.5 percent. View source→
SME loan access
VnExpress is reporting that as of late July, just 8.8 percent of Vietnam’s small and medium-sized enterprises had accessed loans, down 0.5 percentage points from 2025, citing Fiin Group analysis.
Fiin Group identified about 222,000 established small and medium-sized enterprises without loans. View source→
New data storage fines
VnExpress is reporting that Vietnamese organisations can be fined VND20-40 million (US$759-1,518) from August 19 for retaining personal data longer than necessary under Decree 330.
The same penalties apply to organisations processing excessive data, using it outside its defined purpose, or failing to correct inaccurate information promptly. View source→
New fake news fines
VnExpress is reporting that, from August 19, a new penalty framework specifically covering individuals who create and disseminate false or unverified information online came into effect.
Individuals now face VND10-20 million (US$380-759) fines where such information harms legitimate rights and interests or the online information environment. View source→
Data centre cable tariff diff. China-VN
Vietnam-made cable and power products face US tariffs 25 percentage points below comparable Chinese-origin goods, according to US manufacturer Kestner Supply, per a press release published by Technology Today.
Kestner notes that connectorised cable carries a 15.1 percent duty from Vietnam versus 40.1 percent from China under US tariffs effective from July. View source→
Swiss rope manufacturer expansion
VIR is reporting that Swiss manufacturer Jakob Rope Systems is expanding its Ho Chi Minh City factory with a new 6,000-square-metre production and warehouse building.
The second construction phase, announced August 11, will add warehousing, stainless-steel frame production and space reserved for future expansion. View source→
Japan industrial equipment maker consolidation
VIR is reporting that Japanese industrial equipment maker Yanmar will establish Yanmar Vietnam, consolidating three existing Vietnam operations into one company from September 1.
The company will combine Yanmar’s representative office, agricultural machinery business, and boat manufacturing operation to integrate its activities in Vietnam. View source→
Japan Sumitomo asset management JV
Yahoo Finance is reporting that Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group plans to enter Vietnam’s asset management market through a joint venture with state-owned BIDV as early as 2027.
Under the proposed structure, BIDV will own 51 percent and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust 49 percent, the article says, citing Nikkei reporting. View source→
Stock market Tuesday
The VN-Index closed at 1,791.41, up 2.63 points or 0.15 percent, with a total trading value of VND 21,380.36 billion or US$811.40 million, and foreign traders net-buying US$10.51 million worth of equities, Tuesday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Exchange rates Tuesday
On August 25, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 25,920, and the sell rate was VND 25,970, a change of 0 and 0, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 25,945 (down 0.00 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD. Read the full article →
Yesterday’s news
In yesteday’s Vietnam news: Novaland outstanding bond debts, Misleading advertising fine water purifiers, Honda EV 2W sales jump, Entry-level jobs shrinking, Hanoi rooftop solar subsidies, Talent Visa research calls, NA removes some APEC project red tape, China-VN railway revise plans approved, China-VN railway project funding increased, Fitch afirms Vietnam ‘BB+/B’, Fabric plant FDI, Penalties for foreign worker legal breaches, Stock market Monday, and more. Read the full article →